Editorials

People in Aid

Cartoons

A key thematic focus of this issue of
Field Exchange is Humanitarian
Reform. There have been many
reviews and evaluations concerning
the level of progress made since the reform
process was officially launched some five years
ago. The detailed and systematic ‘state of the
system’ review by ALNAP (see research
section) found that the ‘formal’ international
humanitarian system (United Nations (UN),
international non-governmental organisations
and Red Cross) has grown significantly in
financial and human resource terms in recent
years. Progress was found in areas such as
sector coordination (since the advent of the
Cluster Approach – see below), in the mechanisms
that provide more reliable and
predictable funding and in tools for assessment.
Significant gaps in areas such as overall
leadership for coordination (non-sectoral) at
the country level, in accountability to those
affected by emergencies and in investment in
national capacity development were identified.
In fact, the “top-down orientation of the
[humanitarian] system” was found to risk
undermining local capacities.